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U.S. officials believe Israel has narrowed down what it would target in response to an Iranian attack, which the officials described as Iran’s military and energy infrastructure.
There was no indication that Israel would target nuclear facilities or carry out assassinations, but US officials insisted that Israel had not made a final decision on how and when to act.
The region has been awaiting Isreal’s response to Iran’s missile strike launched on October 1, which Iran says was a response to Israel’s invasion of Lebanon and the killing of its allies, including Hamas’s Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, and Hezbollah’s powerful leader. , Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut.
The Iranian attack caused minor damage to Israel.
The US did not know when Israel’s response might come but officials said the Israeli military was prepared and ready to go at any time after the order was given.
US officials stressed that they had no information to indicate a response would come today, but acknowledged that Israel had not shared a specific timeline with them – and it was not clear Israeli officials had even agreed.
U.S. and Israeli officials said a response could occur during the Yom Kippur holiday.
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Israel has shared more information with the US about retaliation, officials said, but they are withholding many details out of operational security concerns. The US is ready to defend its assets in the region against a direct counterattack from Iran but will not provide direct military support for the operation.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with his Israeli counterpart, Yoava Gallant, last night and they discussed Israel’s response. However, it is unclear whether Gallant provided concrete details. The call followed an Israeli Cabinet meeting on retaliation, but Gallant did not indicate the specific targets discussed at the meeting.
US officials continue to urge the Israeli government to make a proportionate response, stay on military targets and avoid oil, gas and nuclear facilities.
President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also did not discuss specifics of the phone call this week, U.S. officials said.
Biden strongly urged Netanyahu to focus on the humanitarian situation in Gaza and in Lebanon and urged him to end the fighting. The US president also emphasized that Israel must consider how difficult it will be to successfully carry out the war in Lebanon and face a strong threat on the second front from Iran.
